Chris Brown tweets 'Thank you GOD' after early release from jail

CaptionControversial figure

Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

Chris Brown's name evokes controversy these days, so it's easy to forget that he once had a role model image. From high school crooner to R&B star both idolized and vilified, here's a brief look at Chris Brown's life and career.

Chris Brown's name evokes controversy these days, so it's easy to forget that he once had a role model image. From high school crooner to R&B star both idolized and vilified, here's a brief look at Chris Brown's life and career. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Chris Brown released his self-titled first album in 2005 after signing with Jive the year before at 15. His first single, "Run It," debuted at No. 1, making it the highest-charting debut single for a male solo artist in Billboard history.

Chris Brown released his self-titled first album in 2005 after signing with Jive the year before at 15. His first single, "Run It," debuted at No. 1, making it the highest-charting debut single for a male solo artist in Billboard history. (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

The 25-year-old R&B singer was released from L.A. County's Men's Central Jail just after midnight on Monday morning, police told L.A. Now, before completing his one-year sentence for violating his probation stemming from his 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna.

CaptionSingers Ike and Tina Turner, 1974

Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

In 1974, husband-and-wife singing duo Ike and Tina Turner got into a vicious spat before a concert in Dallas. Ike allegedly started the fight by slapping the back of her head, according to Tina's memoir. When the two emerged from a limousine, they each were severely bloodied and bruised with Tina's eyes almost sealed shut and Ike's nose bloodied. Tina described it as the one time she fought back against her husband. "The problem is that there are two sides to every story and they only printed the bad side," Ike told The Times in 1991 on the day he was released after 18 months in prison for probation and drug-related violations. "I regret that I've screwed up my life, but I'm not ashamed of nothing I did." "I took everything God gave me for granted: Tina, my family, my career," Ike said in a later interview. "When me and Tina broke up, man, I panicked. I got so insecure. I thought the public would reject me without her. I knew I was in real bad shape, but I couldn't stop." Tina filed for divorce in 1974 and the 14-year marriage officially ended in 1978.

In 1974, husband-and-wife singing duo Ike and Tina Turner got into a vicious spat before a concert in Dallas. Ike allegedly started the fight by slapping the back of her head, according to Tina's memoir. When the two emerged from a limousine, they each were severely bloodied and bruised with Tina's eyes almost sealed shut and Ike's nose bloodied. Tina described it as the one time she fought back against her husband. "The problem is that there are two sides to every story and they only printed the bad side," Ike told The Times in 1991 on the day he was released after 18 months in prison for probation and drug-related violations. "I regret that I've screwed up my life, but I'm not ashamed of nothing I did." "I took everything God gave me for granted: Tina, my family, my career," Ike said in a later interview. "When me and Tina broke up, man, I panicked. I got so insecure. I thought the public would reject me without her. I knew I was in real bad shape, but I couldn't stop." Tina filed for divorce in 1974 and the 14-year marriage officially ended in 1978. (Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images)

In a famous 1988 ABC interview with Barbara Walters, Tyson denied he "beat" or "hit" his then-wife, Robin Givens. What he did say was this: "I grabbed my wife and hold my wife, you know what I mean? I shake my wife up. I never totally struck my wife." During the same interview Givens shared her experience saying, "He shakes, he pushes, he swings. Sometimes, I think he's trying to scare me. ... Just recently, I've become afraid." Three days later police were called to their home, where Tyson had allegedly become enraged and thrown furniture through some windows. Soon after, the couple separated.

In a famous 1988 ABC interview with Barbara Walters, Tyson denied he "beat" or "hit" his then-wife, Robin Givens. What he did say was this: "I grabbed my wife and hold my wife, you know what I mean? I shake my wife up. I never totally struck my wife." During the same interview Givens shared her experience saying, "He shakes, he pushes, he swings. Sometimes, I think he's trying to scare me. ... Just recently, I've become afraid." Three days later police were called to their home, where Tyson had allegedly become enraged and thrown furniture through some windows. Soon after, the couple separated. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

The "Fine China" singer entered the facility in early May just after admitting that he had violated his probation by committing a crime in October. The singer was charged with assault in an incident that took place outside a Washington hotel and still faces a misdemeanor assault trial in that case.

On May 9, a Superior Court judge ordered him to stay in jail and extended his probation to Jan. 23, 2015.

As expected, the Grammy-winning crooner was cut loose early thanks to jail overcrowding calculations that count one day in custody as two days, according to previous reports.

The singer had originally been sentenced to 365 days in jail but, upon entering, had already completed 234 days due to his prior stint in rehab and additional time in jail as he awaited trial in his D.C. case.

Though he had 131 days to go, the singer walked out after 108 days completed, according to TMZ.

Brown isn't totally free yet though. He's still on probation, obviously, and has to see a psychiatrist twice a week, complete his remaining community service, take his prescribed meds and stay off marijuana, including for medical use. Court documents have said that the singer has bipolar disorder.

After 10 people were shot — seven of them in one incident — overnight in Baltimore following the city's most violent month in decades, police announced Sunday that 10 federal agents will embed with the city's homicide unit for the next two months.

Interim Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis announced a reorganization of the department in an email to police Saturday night, formally promoting or moving 28 people into new roles and undoing some changes made by his predecessor Anthony W. Batts.